A new point-of-care (POC) in vitro blood gas monitor from a UK company has been shown to match the accuracy of laboratory testing.

The new technology from Cambridge-based Sphere Medical can measure blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, as well as other parameters, in the intensive care unit (ICU).

While POC testing is faster and more convenient than sending samples for lab analysis, until now it has tended to be less accurate. The new POC monitor could be of particular value in critical care settings (such as the ICU), where patients can deteriorate rapidly between lab tests.

"We're the first people I'm aware of that have demonstrated that this kind of device can have the same accuracy as the central lab," said Stuart Hendry, CEO of Sphere Medical. "I believe that this has the ability to become a standard of care in every intensive care unit."

The trial assessed the new monitor's ability to analyse levels of blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, glucose and potassium, as well as blood pH, in 100 patients in the ICU.

Blood is drawn from the patient and passed over a sensor microchip in the monitor before being returned to the patient's body. The results are displayed on the monitor a minute later.

Sphere is currently developing two products based on the monitor:

• The Proxima system, a patient-dedicated analyser for use in the ICU and operating room. This disposable device can be attached to the patient's arterial line and used when needed.

• A cardiopulmonary bypass monitor that can be integrated into a heart-lung machine circuit to provide continuous monitoring. The company is developing this device in partnership with Sorin.

 
Proxima system